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** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.

Description

Watermark:

The Nepalese crown. Its feature is the plumage of a bird of paradise feathers. Headdress, which is crowned by the royal coat of arms is "Shri Panch" or official crown. It consists entirely of diamonds, pearls, emeralds and rubies. There are certain differences between the crowns, used by His Majesty and similar crowns prime minister.

The King’s head-dress is differenced from that of the Prime Minister by five of these plaques (i.e. circular plaques composed of large diamonds) or “chands”. The back of this crown is ornamented by enormous flatted diamonds about 5/8 of an inch square. It will be seen in the accompanying picture that he too has a bunch of large emeralds, of which the lowest is a gigantic stone of 1,25 inches in length. Behind, His Majesty’s head-dress continues the row of hanging stones, but substitutes for them flatted diamonds, each hung as a pendant to the large square diamond above.

Among the Crown jewels of Nepal is one that deserves a passing mention. It is a knot of large diamonds which belonged to the late Empress Eugénie and was sold in 1886. The jewel, which is 5 inches in length by 1,25 inches in breadth, is composed of diamonds of large size.

Avers:

The engraving on banknote is made from this photo of HM The King of Nepal Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. The date of Photo is unknown.

HM The King of Nepal Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (वीरेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह) (28 December 1945, Narayanhity Royal Palace, Kathmandu, Nepal - 1 June 2001, Narayanhity Royal Palace, Kathmandu, Nepal) was the 11th King of Nepal and a South Asian statesman. The eldest son of King Mahendra, whom he succeeded in 1972, he reigned until his death in the 2001 Nepalese royal massacre. He is the most internationally well-known Nepalese king in modern history. HM The King wears a traditional Nepalese crown.

Centered is The Taleju temple in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal.

Taleju, the largest temple of the Durbar Square, was built by Mahendra Malla in the sixteenth century. The shrine of Taleju is the most exquisite of all the temples in the square and for a reason. Taleju Bhawani was the clan goddess of the Malla royalty. In all three ancient kingdoms of the valley - Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur, Malla Kings have erected temples to Taleju, their tutelary deity. Since Bhaktapur is the original home of Malla Kings, the Taleju Temple of Bhaktapur is the oldest Taleju of the three.Standing on a 12-stage platform in Trishul chowk, the Taleju temple towers over the ancient Durbar Square. During the Malla era, and later in the Shah era too, it was forbidden to build a house taller in stature than Taleju for this, it was said, would insult the goddess and make her hostile and vengeful.There are twelve miniature temples around the main pagoda, each dedicated to a different Hindu deity. These Lilliputian temples built around a main shrine are called "Kacha Dewal" - branch temples built as a group where other deities are installed. The temple is open to Hindus each year solely on the ninth day of the "Dashain" festival. The temple in its present state is mainly the work of Pratap Malla, for it is known that Pratap Malla made many renovations to Taleju during his time which significantly contributed to its appearance.

What is remarkable about the allure of Taleju in the ancient Kathmandu valley is that Taleju is in reality an imported goddess. She came to Kathmandu from South India, and by the XIV century had become the royal Malla deity. There are many folklores surrounding how Taleju inspired different Malla kings to adopt her and engage in different events. One such story tells that the temple was constructed in the shape of a Yantra (a form of mandala) on guidance of the goddess Taleju herself. In fact, it is also said that Taleju attended the dedication ceremony of the temple disguised as a bee. (hanumandhoka.gov.np)

The coin that appears on the front of the notes is the reverse side of a Nepalese Asarfi (gold coin). The inner circle of the coin indicates Shree Bhawani (Goddess Durga), Asarfi (gold coin), Nepal, and Khadga (the double-edged sword. The outer circle of the coin indicates Shree Shree Shree Gorakha Nath - Typically, Sree or Shree or Sri or Shri is a honorific prefixed with the Indian / Hindu title of respect and esteem. It is an Indian title applied to people and Hindu gods in various languages, derived from Sanskrit. Basically, the coin indicates protection of the people by Shree Bhawani and her Khadga.

The outer circle of the coin is divided into 8 sectors. This is the eight auspicious symbols of Dharma. According to legend, when the Buddha Sakyamuni attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, the deity gave him eight auspicious symbols: the first of the deities, Brahma, appeared before the Buddha with golden Dharmachakra - Wheel of Dharma, heavenly deity Indra brought a white sink for the proclamation of the true doctrine, the earthly deity Stavara - precious vessel full of nectar of immortality, the other deity Buddha brought two goldfish, lotus flower, the banner of victory and precious umbrella [Chemitdorzhiev 2010: 48-49]. All of these eight characters has become a symbol of the Dharma (teachings of the Buddha), indicating a direct relationship with its people's lives. While wisdom teachings of the Buddha can achieve prosperity and happiness, these characters are also called eight characters of luck.

Gorakshanath (also known as Gorakhnath) was an 11th to 12th century Hindu Nath yogi, connected to Shaivism as one of the two most important disciples of Matsyendranath, the other being Caurangi. One legend states that Guru Gorakshanath, the "eternal sage" traditionally associated with Hatha Yoga, has been around for thousands of years watching the welfare of humanity. Other legends ascribe different stories to his birth and the period of his worldly existence, and they vary greatly. The Nath Rahasya, which literally translates as "the mystery of the masters", recounts the birth, work, and death of nine such Naths (masters), and Guru Gorakshanath was the ninth Nath, preceded by his Guru, the eighth Nath, namely, Matsyendranath.

Bhavani is a warlike aspect of the Hindu goddess Parvati (Durga). Bhavani means "giver of life" due to the nature or source of creative energy. In addition to its militant mission, it is also known as Karunaswaroopini "filled with grace". Bhavani was the divine patron of the Maratha leader Shivaji, to whom she dedicated her sword.

Parvati (पार्वती) is known as the motherly form of Mother Goddess Gauri Jagadamba, Parvati is another form of Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Maha Devi or Durga, the Great Goddess. Parvati is considered to be a complete incarnation of Adi Parashakti or Goddess Durga, with all other Goddesses being her incarnations or manifestations.

Goddess Durga (दुर्गा), meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible") is the most popular incarnation of Devi and one of the main forms of the Goddess Shakti in the Hindu pantheon. Durga is the original manifested form of Mother Adi-Parashakti. She is Adi-Parashakti herself. The Devi Gita declares her to be the greatest Goddess.

According to legend, Durga lives in the Vindhya mountains, surrounded by eight assistants yogins.

Denominations in numerals are in top corners. In words centered.

Revers:

The view at Mount Everest and on the valley is taken from the small Nepalese village Gokyo.

Gokyo is a small village in Solukhumbu District in the Himalayas of Nepal, at the foot of Gokyo Ri and on the eastern shore of Gokyo Cho (Dudh Pokhari). The village, barely a hamlet consisting of several huts, is located at an elevation of 4,750 meters (15,580 ft.), making it one of the highest settlements in Nepal and in the world, but likely not permanently inhabited all year around as it is essentially a collection of huts catering to hikers.

Centered are two wild yaks grazing.

The yak (Bos grunniens and Bos mutus) is a long-haired bovid found throughout the Himalaya region of southern Central Asia, the Tibetan Plateau and as far north as Mongolia and Russia. Most yaks are domesticated Bos grunniens. There is also a small, vulnerable population of wild yaks, Bos mutus.

The English word "yak" is a loan originating from Tibetan: གཡག་, Wylie: g.yag – in Tibetan this refers only to the male of the species, the female being called Tibetan: འབྲི་, Wylie: 'bri or nak. In English, as in most other languages which have borrowed the word, "yak" is usually used for both sexes.

Yak physiology is well adapted to high altitudes, having larger lungs and heart than cattle found at lower altitudes, as well as greater capacity for transporting oxygen through their blood due to the persistence of foetal haemoglobin throughout life. Conversely, yaks do not thrive at lower altitudes, and begin to suffer from heat exhaustion above about 15 °C (59 °F).

Top left is an emblem of Nepal Bank. Middle line in the text in Nepali script reads "ASATO MA SADGAMAYA" or "LEAD US FROM THE UNREAL (FALSITY) TO THE REAL (TRUTH)".

Also on banknote depicted two columns, which I did not find yet to describe.